Indian Railways Greenlights Rs 440 Crore Third Line in West Bengal to Ease Congestion

The Ministry of Railways has approved a Rs 440 crore project to construct a 14.52-kilometre third railway line between Nimpura West Outer Cabin and Midnapur in West Bengal. The project, part of the Indian Railways' High Utilisation Network (HUN-2) route, aims to reduce train congestion and improve operational efficiency on this corridor.

Currently, the Nimpura West Outer Cabin-Gokulpur section operates as a single line, with doubling works already underway. The addition of a third line will significantly enhance line capacity and provide greater operational flexibility. The South Eastern Railway (SER) zone, which oversees this route, stated that the project is expected to facilitate smoother and seamless train movement, strengthening rail infrastructure in the state.

The project is part of a broader effort to upgrade key routes that handle high traffic volumes. The HUN-2 network includes corridors with dense freight and passenger movement, where capacity augmentation is critical to reducing delays and improving reliability. The approved third line will allow for more trains to run simultaneously, reducing bottlenecks that currently cause congestion.

The Railways emphasised that the investment aligns with its strategy to modernise infrastructure and meet growing demand. The project is expected to be completed within a specified timeframe, though no completion date has been announced. Local authorities and commuters have welcomed the move, as it promises to ease travel and support economic activity in the region.

This development comes amid ongoing efforts to enhance rail connectivity in eastern India, with several projects under execution to expand the network and improve service quality. The Ministry has not disclosed further details on funding or construction timelines.